Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDW11120

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Western Australia

Coastal Waters Forecast for Western Australia
Northern Zones: NT-WA Border to North West Cape

Issued at 1:01 am WST on Tuesday 18 November 2025
for the period until midnight WST Thursday 20 November 2025.

Please be aware
Wind and wave forecasts are averages. Wind gusts can be 40 per cent stronger than the forecast, and stronger still in squalls and thunderstorms. Maximum waves can be twice the forecast height.

Warning Information

For latest warnings go to www.bom.gov.au, subscribe to RSS feeds, call 1300 659 210* or listen for warnings on relevant TV and radio broadcasts.

Weather Situation

A trough over land near the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts will move further inland from later today into Wednesday, with a broad west to southwesterly flow developing over much of the coastal waters. In the longer term, a tropical low currently located well to the north of the Kimberley may move closer to its north coast on the weekend.

North Kimberley Coast: WA-NT Border to Kuri Bay

Forecast for Tuesday 18 November until midnight

Winds: Southeast to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots tending northeast to southeasterly in the middle of the day then becoming variable about 10 knots in the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm east of Kalumburu.

Forecast for Wednesday 19 November

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming south to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots in the early morning then tending west to southwesterly in the early afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: The chance of a thunderstorm east of Kalumburu in the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon.

Forecast for Thursday 20 November

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

West Kimberley Coast: Kuri Bay to Wallal

Forecast for Tuesday 18 November until midnight

Winds: West to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Wednesday 19 November

Winds: West to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore in the evening. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Thursday 20 November

Winds: West to southwesterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore south of Broome during the afternoon or evening. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Pilbara Coast East: Wallal to Cape Preston

Forecast for Tuesday 18 November until midnight

Winds: West to southwesterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots inshore in the late afternoon. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning, then increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Wednesday 19 November

Winds: West to southwesterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots inshore during the afternoon and evening. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres inshore during the afternoon. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Thursday 20 November

Winds: Westerly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres west of Port Hedland. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Pilbara Coast West: Cape Preston to North West Cape

Forecast for Tuesday 18 November until midnight

Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots inshore in the evening. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: West to southwesterly around 1 metre offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Wednesday 19 November

Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots east of Barrow Island during the afternoon and evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore east of Barrow Island during the afternoon. Swell: West to southwesterly around 1 metre offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Thursday 20 November

Winds: West to southwesterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: West to southwesterly around 1 metre offshore. Weather: Cloud clearing.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 7:01 am WST Tuesday.

* Calls to 1300 numbers cost around 27.5c incl. GST, higher from mobiles or public phones. Marine forecasts are also available on VHF and HF radio. View the radio schedule on www.bom.gov.au/marine

Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecasts for information on wind, wave and weather conditions for neighbouring coastal zones